DENVER—The state Wildlife Division estimates Colorado has about 788,000 acres of black-tailed prairie dog colonies, up 25 percent from five years ago.
The survey results, announced Tuesday, are part of the state’s effort to document the health of the animal.
In the late 1990s, some environmental groups questioned how many black-tailed prairie dogs were left in the state and asked the federal government to declare them endangered.
The prairie dog information will be incorporated in the a conservation plan for grassland species, designed to ensure the health of the mountain plover, burrowing owl, swift fox, ferruginous hawk, prairie dogs and other animals while addressing the interests and rights of private landowners.
The surveys used low-flying aircraft to identify potential black-tailed prairie dog habitat, most of which was on private land. Ground crews then contacted randomly selected landowners to ask permission to verify colonies identified from the air.
Because the planes could not fly over urban areas, officials said, the acreage estimates were likely the minimum.
The most recent previous survey, in 2002, found about 630,000 acres of black-tailed prairie dog towns.
Colorado has two other types of prairie dogs, white-tailed and Gunnison. Black-tailed prairie dogs are the most common and live on the Front Range and Eastern Plains.
White-tailed and Gunnison prairie dogs are generally found west of Interstate-25.
Other species, including black-footed ferrets, rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, eagles, hawks, badgers and weasels interact with or depend on prairie dog towns for their survival.
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